Sound-detector.



W. HOPPIE.

SOUND DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1914.

1,140,827. Patented May 25, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOPPIE, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR T HOPPIE ELECTRICALAPPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

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Specification of Letters latent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed July 20, 1914. Serial No. 852,059.

' tors, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates-to a novel device by means of which to locate allknocking or other noises in machinery of any kind which may indicate thejamming or loosening of parts, roughness of bearings, rattling ofvalves, insufficient lubrication or cutting due to improper setting ofline shafting or other similar troubles.

A most important use of my improved device is the facility with which itwill indicate the timing of explosions in gas engines.

It is well understood by all persons familiar with the running ofmachinery that noises occur which indicate something wrong as to theparts of the same, and it is diliicult to locate the seat of such noisesby the sense of hearing alone and-it frequently becomes necessary tostop a machine and to disassemble its parts to find out the trouble.

My invention has for its objectto eliminate the necessity of expendingvaluable time, as is at resent necessitated to locate and correct deects in any and all classes of machinery and with this object in view myinvention consists 1n the construction and arrangement of a sounddetector as will be hereinafter andin detail described.

In order that my invention and its uses may be fully "understood I willproceed to describe the same referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawing which represents a central sectionof a sound detector em--bodyin'g'the features of my invention.

1 is a comparatively small diaphragm securely fastened by solderin orotherwise, to a metal tube 2, within whic is centrally arranged a rod 3,small in cross section, the upper end of which is firmly secured to thecenter of a second and .larger diaphragm 4. This diaphragmisfsupported-upon a base 5, secured to the upper end of the tube 2, theouter edge of the diaphragm restin upon anannular washer 6, ocatedupon te base 5, as clearly shown.- v

7 is a cap of the form shown, covering the diaphragm 4, and holding ittightly to the diaphragm 4, and

washer 6, and base 5, the base and cap being secured together bysuitably disposed screws 8. As shown clearly in the drawing, theinterior of the cap 7 is formed with two concaves the larger one 9,terminating at the base of a smaller one 10, which latter communicateswith a Y-eXtension tube 11, to which are connected rubber, tubes 12,provided with suitable ear pieces 13.

The lower end of the rod 3 is firmly con nected with the center of thesmall diaphragm 1, and extends a short distance below it as seen at 14.Y

Inasmuch as one end ofthe tubular portion 2 is closed by the diaphragm 1and the other end opens into the space between the base 5 and thediaphragm 4, there is provided between the diaphragms l and '4 an aircolumn.

.This aircolumn forms an elastic medium by which impulses may betransmitted to the diaphragm 4, the rod 3 providing means connectingthese diaphragms and also pro vidin for conducting vibrations along themetal ic rod 3 from the stylus 14 to the diaphragm 4, thus two means areprovided for connecting the sound vibrations to the diaphragm 4, onebeing entirely mechanical and the other being by vibrations transmittedto the inclosed column of air.

Having fully described the construction I will now explain the manner ofusing it.

The ear pieces being inserted in the ears of the investigator, the point14, is moved over the different parts of the machine until the seat ofthe trouble is located by reason of the approach ofthe point 14 to thelocality from whence: the noise issues. The exact location can bedetermined by theintensity of the sound, the point 14, acting as aconductor causes vibration of the diaphragm 1. such vibration beingmagnified by the larger which reflect and concentrate the sound wavesand transmit the same in focused form through the Y-tube 11, rubbertubes 12,

and ear pieces 18, to the drums of the ears.

The tube 2, and base 5, serve to eliminate to a certain extent the outernatural noises, and also serve to rotect 'the working parts of thedevice. T e diaphragm 1, protects the rod 3, and operates as anequalizer for the diaphragm 4, and protects it from jams or looseningfrom the rod. The eculiar noises whichmocompanying the worfiing ofdefective machinery will be distinctly heard as the concavities 9 and10,

the point 14, approaches the defective part and as before stated theintensity of sound at such point determines the exact location, and whenthere are several'defects in the machinery each one. can be located bythe different sounds transmitted through the device. The edges of thediaphragm being tightly clamped in place prevents any rattling of thediaphragm and eliminates confusion of sounds.

It will be understood that I do not wish to be confined to any exactproportions of the several parts of the device, norto the exact detailsof construction shown, as many adapted to receive a flexible soundconducting tube, a diaphragm confined between the cap and base andspaced 'from'the confrontby Letters Patent, is: 20

variations 'and' modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of my in vention which is indicated in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure 1. A sound detector including abase, a relatively long centrally disposed tube con:

nected thereto and projecting therefrom, a

concave cap disposed upon the base and having a relatively small tubularextension from the center thereof, said extension being ing facesthereof and having a relatively large'diameter, a comparatively smalldiaphragm located at the terminus of the tube and closing the endthereof whereby to provide an inclosed column of air between thediaphragms,-and a rod connecting the two diaphragms. i

- 2. A sound'detector comprisin a base, a

relatively long centrally dispose tube connected therewith, a concavecap mountedupon the base and having an extension relatively small indiameter, the extension hav ing branches, sound detecting tubesconnecting said branches, a relatively large diaphragm confined betweenthe cap and base v and spaced from the confronting facesthereof,- acomparatively small diaphragm disposed at the terminus of the tubeoppositethe base and closing the end thereof whereby to provide aninclosed column of air between the diaphragms, and a rod connecting thetwo.

